WEBVTT REPORTER:rt POLICE EQUIPMENT HASBEEN A HOT TOPIC HERE IN FORTSMITH.RECENTLY, POLICE ANDrtFIREFIGHTERS UNIONS HAVEPETITIONED FOR ONE OF THE BOARDOF DIRECTORS TO BE REMOVEDBECAUSE THE UPGRADES HAVEN'TBEEN MADE.TODAY, THE FORT SMITH BOARD DIRECTORS HEARD A POLICErtPROPOSAL TO SPEND MORE THAN$$700,000 IMPROVEMENTS.VEHICLES WITH 200,000+ MILES ANDTASERS THAT HAVE GONE WELL PASTTHEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY THESE AREJUST A FEW OF THE ISSUES THATFORT SMITH POLICE OFFICERS WOULDrtLIKE TAKEN CARE OF.IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERESOME SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED IFTHE OFFICERS WILL BE ABLE TOMAKE IT TO WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED.rt>> WE ARE STARTING TO SEE AGREATER INCREASE IN MAINTENANCECOSTS AND THE POTENTIALLIABILITY OF OUR OFFICERS NOTEVEN GETTING THE CALLS.REPORTER:rt THE PLAN IS TO REPLACESEVERAL VEHICLES IN THE FLEET,PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OFFICERTRAINING, AND EVEN PURCHASE NEWTASERS SOME OF WHICH CAN NO, LONGER BE USED.rt>> LIEUTENANT MILAM HADMENTIONED I MEAN HE'S THE TASERINSTRUCTOR AND HE WENT TO SHOW, ITS USE AND PRESSED A BUTTONAND NOTHING HAPPENED.rtTHE POINT IS WE NEED TO MAKESURE OUR OFFICERS HAVE WORKINGEQUIPMENT WHO ARE OUT IN THEFIELD.REPORTER: JUST A FEW WEEKS AGOMEMBERS FROM BOTH THE POLICE &FIREFIGHTER UNIONS WEREPETITIONING TO REMOVE A MEMBEROF THE BOARD.rtTODAY THE BOARD SHOWED THEIRSUPPORT.>> THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS AGROUP IS VERY SUPPORTIVE IBELIEVE OF HAVING THE TYPE OFrtEQUIPMENT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTNEEDS.REPORTER: THE CITY ADMINISTRATORTELLS ME ANY FAULTY POLICEEQUIPMENT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OFSERVICE.IN THE MEANTIME HE SAYS ALL THrtEEQUIPMENT THE POLICE FORCE USESIS SAFE.REPORTING IN FORT SMITH.BRENDAN JOHNSON.

FSPD officers would like several issues in the department taken care of. Those include vehicles with 200,000+ miles and tasers well past their life expectancy. At their monthly study session today, the Fort Smith Board of Directors heard a police proposal to spend unused funds. Those funds stand in excess of $700,000 and would be used on several improvements across the department.

The equipment situation at the FSPD is not a new problem. At least 9 cars in the fleet are up for replacement. It's gotten to the point where some are concerned as to whether officers will be able to make it to where they're needed. Lt. Wes Milam made the presentation in front of the board. He says maintenance costs have gotten too high and the outdated vehicles are a liability. "What we're starting to see is a greater increase in maintenance costs and the potential liability of our officers not even getting the calls", Milam said.

Advertisement

Many of the department's tasers were purchased between 2005-2007. Today, they are well past their usable lifetime. Lt. Milam trains FSPD officers how to use tasers. He told the board that in one of his training demonstrations, his taser would not function.

This meeting comes weeks after many Fort Smith police & firefighter union members petitioned to remove a member of the board over the department's dire equipment state. Today, the board showed their support by moving most of the proposal forward. Director Tracy Pennartz of ward 5 proposed a "sinking" fund for the department. It's much like a savings account for certain departments. Pennartz says it would prevent situations like this where departments rely on unused funds to make improvements.

"The board of directors- as a group- is very supportive, I believe, of having the type of equipment our police department needs", Pennartz said.

The board pushed almost all of the proposal forward. Members will hold further discussions on vehicle replacement. Director Pennartz says the board is looking into leasing 15 police vehicles as opposed to purchasing nine.